Electrical back scratcher

ABSTRACT

An electrical back scratcher. The device comprises a housing having an open bottom portion. An endless belt in the housing is driven by a frictionally engaging drum powered by an electric motor. The endless belt is provided on its outer periphery with rows of spaced flexible teeth simultating human fingernails. A handle, an electrical cord and a two-speed switch are provided.

Unite States atem [191 [111 3,84,224 Garcia May 20, 1975 [54] ELECTRICALBACK SCRATCHER 2,306,424 12/1942 Betz 128/59 3,150,393 9 1964 T 1 t 1. 1l [76] Inventor: Adey M. Garcia, 64-20 Saunders ay or e a 32/ I A RegoPark 1 1374 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1973Attorney, Agent, or FirmJacob L. Kollin [21] Appl. No.: 393,684

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 128/63 An electrical back Scratcher- Thedevice Comprises a 51 Int. Cl .1A61h 7/00 housing having an P bottom Pendless 58 Field of Search 128/5863, in the housing is driven by africtionally engaging 128/242, 56; 132/11 A drum powered by an electricmotor. The endless belt is provided on its outer periphery with rows ofspaced [56] References Cited flexible teeth simultating humanfingernails. A handle,

UNITED STATES PATENTS an electrical cord and a two-speed switch are pro-'d (1. 1,212,443 1/1917 Blaine 128/62 R V 6 2,247,440 7/1941 Hempel128/63 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures i ll 1 ELECTRICAL BACK SCRATCHER Theinvention relates to an electrical back scratcher.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensiveand efficient device, designed for scratching the back, and adapted toreadily find its way down the spine of a person without difficulty andcapable of enabling the back to be thoroughly scratched in a cleanly andhealthful manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical backscratcher which will enable arthritic and otherwise disabled people thathave trouble scratching their backs to effectively perform thisfunction.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the back scratcher;FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan bottom view of the back scratcher; FIG. 4 is anenlarged detail of the device showing the flexible teeth thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of FIG. 1. Referring now to thedrawing in detail, the electrical back scratcher, generally indicated bythe numeral 6 in FIG. 1, comprises a housing having a top wall 8 a rearwall 10 and side walls 12 and an open bottom portion. The housing isprovided with a handle 14. Secured to one of the walls 12 by brackets 16is an electric motor 18 of narrow width, which operates a hollow drivedrum 20, secured to shaft 21 of the motor. Mounted on idler rollers 22,22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e which are rotatably secured to one of the sidewalls 12, is an endless belt 24 drivingly engaged with the drum 20.Secured at right angles to the outer surface of belt 24 are spaced rowsof flexible teeth which are of arcuate cross-section and have roundedends, such as 26. The teeth are made to simulate human fingernails andare preferably made of a flexible plastic material so as to yieldsomewhat during their contact with the human skin. Power to the motor 18is supplied through an electrical cord 28. A

two-speed switch 30 of known design permits the user to vary the speedof operation.

To operate the device, it is only necessary to turn the switch to eitherof the two on positions, depending on the speed desired and to slide italong the back or any other part of the body.

I claim:

1. An electrical back scratcher comprising a housing having a top wall,a pair of side walls, a rear wall and an open bottom portion, an endlessbelt movable in said housing in parallel relationship to said top andrear walls, said endless belt being provided with teeth having anarcuate cross-section and rounded ends of flexible material andsimulating human fingernails, said teeth being arranged in spaced rowsabout said belts periphery, and extending through said open portion andmeans for driving said endless belt, said means for driving said endlessbelt being a hollow drum, an electrical motor secured to one of saidside walls, said electrical motor having a drive shaft arranged parallelto said rear wall, said hollow drum being secured to said drive shaft, aplurality of idler rollers secured to one of said side walls for guidingsaid endless belt, a hollow handle having one end secured to said rearwall, an electrical cord extending through the other end of said handleand through said hollow handle into said housing and connected to saidelectrical motor, for connecting said device to an electrical powersource.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for driving saidendless belt is a hollow drum, an electrical motor secured to one ofsaid side walls, said electrical motor having a drive shaft arrangedparallel to said rear wall, said hollow drum being secured to said driveshaft.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, further provided with a pluralityof idler rollers secured to one of said side walls for guiding saidendless belt.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, further provided with a hollowhandle having one end secured to said rear wall, an electrical cordextending through the other end of said handle and through said hollowhandle into said housing and connected to said electrical motor, forconnecting said device to an electrical power source.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, further provided with a two-speedswitch mounted in said handle and connected intermediate to saidelectrical cord.

1. An electrical back scratcher comprising a housing having a top wall,a pair of side walls, a rear wall and an open bottom portion, an endlessbelt movable in said housing in parallel relationship to said top andrear walls, said endless belt being provided with teeth having anarcuate cross-section and rounded ends of flexible material andsimulating human fingernails, said teeth being arranged in spaced rowsabouT said belt''s periphery, and extending through said open portionand means for driving said endless belt, said means for driving saidendless belt being a hollow drum, an electrical motor secured to one ofsaid side walls, said electrical motor having a drive shaft arrangedparallel to said rear wall, said hollow drum being secured to said driveshaft, a plurality of idler rollers secured to one of said side wallsfor guiding said endless belt, a hollow handle having one end secured tosaid rear wall, an electrical cord extending through the other end ofsaid handle and through said hollow handle into said housing andconnected to said electrical motor, for connecting said device to anelectrical power source.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid means for driving said endless belt is a hollow drum, an electricalmotor secured to one of said side walls, said electrical motor having adrive shaft arranged parallel to said rear wall, said hollow drum beingsecured to said drive shaft.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 2,further provided with a plurality of idler rollers secured to one ofsaid side walls for guiding said endless belt.
 4. The device as claimedin claim 3, further provided with a hollow handle having one end securedto said rear wall, an electrical cord extending through the other end ofsaid handle and through said hollow handle into said housing andconnected to said electrical motor, for connecting said device to anelectrical power source.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, furtherprovided with a two-speed switch mounted in said handle and connectedintermediate to said electrical cord.